The African Industries Group says it plans to establish the largest solar-powered industrial steel project in sub-Saharan Africa after a landmark allocation of 500 hectares of land by the Niger State Government, The Guardian reports.

Chairman of the group, Raj Gupta, made the disclosure over the weekend in Abuja, at the groundbreaking and handover ceremony of the land to Abuja Steel Mills Limited, a subsidiary of the group.

Gupta said the initiative would place Nigeria on the global steel and renewable energy maps, as he thanked the Niger government for the land.

He noted that the conglomerate, which has operated in Nigeria for over 50 years, views the expansion as a critical vehicle for human empowerment.

“For us, this historic day where we are being given this land is not just an opportunity to build industry and create jobs, but its main purpose is the development, upliftment, and empowerment of people.

“This project will perhaps be the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, putting Nigeria not only on the world steel map but also on the world’s renewable energy map,” Gupta stated.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, who was in attendance, said the Federal Government is committed to overhauling the power sector to drive industrialisation, as he alluded to the importance of public-private partnerships in driving economic development.

He commended Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State for attracting private investments to catalyse economic growth.

The minister said, “We are working to resolve the fundamental contradictions that have made electricity a source of national frustration rather than national productivity,” assuring that the infrastructure required to make the investment realisable remains a priority.